Recap: Good Morning, From Here, December 13 – 19
Monday
The tiny theatre tucked into Arte VallARTa was overflowing with those who love live theater, and they were most certainly not disappointed by the unusualness of ”Anak ni Tapia: Leaving Mother,” which starred playwright Lani T. Montreal in a solo show that ran 75 minutes without an intermission. Kudos to Lani for writing and starring in the tale of her childhood in the Philippines, growing up in the shadow of her famous mom, writer/actress Mely Tagasa. Vallarta’s self-taught, wonderfully sensitive guitarist, Dash Robles, provided music at various times throughout the performance; a lovely, gentle touch. I hope this Mexican debut of Anak ni Tapia will not be the only presentation of this work; I would love to see it again.
It felt so odd to be inside Casa Yvonneka for one of the best parties of the year, without Yvonne there, flowers in her hair, chilling with her friends, especially Matthias Vogt and Lupe Wulff. The Tenth Annual Frida Fundraiser for Puerto Vallarta’s street dogs began in the lounge of Yvonne’s massive home overlooking Vallarta, for cocktails and socializing. I chatted with John and Barbara McKinney, Maria Jose Zorrilla, owner of the Belmar Hotel, Hardy Madhur, painter Miriam Aroeste, Real Estate Broker Ron Morgan, and the other 125 supporters of the always-fun event. Lots of dazzling Fridas that were nearly as gorgeous as the floral arrangements that dressed up every table in the house.
Steven Retchless came as Stevie Hart, sang, and became the playful, cajoling auctioneer for an abundance of donated prizes that, in total, were worth a staggering amount of money. See Steven’s expansive Britney experience every Monday at 7 pm at Coco Cabaret. Gloria Fiona sang a couple of Adele classics as she meandered through the maze of guests outdoors having dinner, and stopped by our table to give me a quick squeeze.
Gloria has her amazing Tribute to Adele coming to the Palm on December 28, at 5 pm. Enrique de Allende sang for us in his beautiful tenor. Don’t miss his annual birthday fundraiser at Coco Cabaret this coming Thursday at 5 pm, which includes his friends – nearly every singer in town – and some from away like Lady Zen, who lives in San Miguel de Allende, as does Enrique.
Beautiful, well-behaved dogs were around; one adorable chihuahua was dressed in pink and posed for photos. A trio of them was posted and poised at the front door of Casa Yvonneka, lest we forget for whom and what the evening was devoted.
It was my pleasure to personally thank Clifford Cideko, the CEO of the Florida-based Warten Foundation, and to give him a big hug for sponsoring the three-course dinner.
While Yvonne’s presence was keenly missed, her spirit shared the night with us, amid reassurances that the Yvonneka Foundation would remain intact and continue its essential dog rescue and adoption work. Rest in Peace, dear Yvonne. Everyone else, raise your glass in her honor once again, and say yes to Frida XI, From Here.
Tuesday
The fundraising continues in earnest, with the Vallarta School for Girls and the kids at RISE benefiting from the last two events I attended. Los Mangos Library was again the scene of the Tropical Christmas party, which began late afternoon and continued with dancing to music by Kim Kuzma under the giant mango trees. Derek Carkner was the host again and unrelenting with the funny but corny jokes. Entertainers donated their time, plugged their shows, and enjoyed the light dinner that was cooked by the teachers and students – it was good! I saw Chef Roman Ventura cheerfully serving plates of food he had not prepared but volunteered to deliver.
Singer and guitarist Stolie has done outstanding work teaching the girls how to sing Christmas carols in harmony in English, Spanish, and ASL!
Delilah Beaucoup kicked off the entertainment with a few Annie Lennox/Eurythmics songs she will feature in her upcoming show at Coco Cabaret, which debuts Season Two on January 02. Kevin Anthony, Mau Jimenez, and Enrique de Allende got the crowd going. The bar was kept busy, of course, and the silent auction tables created a constant swirl of potential buyers checking the latest bids on all the donated items.
Kudos to all the volunteers who work so hard to ensure these events run smoothly and seem effortless. The setup of food equipment, tables, and chairs, then mapping that out so that people can be guided to their places with ease. Sourcing auction items and rounding up performers who are very busy this time of year, in particular, has to be daunting. It all appeared to be easy as pie, so everyone did their jobs well. Bravos!
Last night at Nacho Daddy, was a celebration fundraiser for RISE, the children’s shelter. Hosted by Gouda Gabor in a million red sequins and Nacho Granados, the variety show that ensued featured winners and runners-up from various years of the So, You Think You Can Rise? talent contest, which is no more.
Nicolas, 15, who studies the accordion with Dabit Azofeifa, teamed up with Angeloo, 12, for an impromptu duet that delighted everyone. Angeloo stepped out again with a seasonal-appropriate Ave Maria but Dimash-style. Outstanding. If anyone can figure out how to get a message to Dimash Qudaibergen overseas to let him know his prodigy is alive and well and living in Vallarta, and send him a recording of Angeloo singing S.O.S., our Angel will be set for life. I keep thinking of the sound of a Dimash and Angeloo duet…Ay, ay, ay.
If you have heard about the Social Club but haven’t been yet, this afternoon/evening at 6 pm is your chance! Join publisher Jerry Jones and his team from Out and About Puerto Vallarta magazine at the last Gay Mixer of 2025, upstairs at the mysteriously fabulous Social Club. Look for me and say hi – I will be the only straight woman there.
After that, Open Mic starts at 7:30 at Nacho Daddy, From Here.
Wednesday
One week to Christmas Eve; it still thrills me to have my window wide open and to look out and see trees growing and not a lick of snow anywhere!
I walked over to the Social Club last night, right at 6 pm, for Out and About Puerto Vallarta magazine’s Gay Mixer. It was already packed! Two bars were open, and the lines kinda merged on the stairs going up. A jazzy trio played behind a velvet rope that kept the musicians just out of the crush of humanity. Shannon Maracle sang, as did Nick Rogers. The three owners were everywhere, greeting people as they walked in; I got a lovely hug from JT Horenstein, who is responsible for some seriously terrific shows at the Social Club. I soon fled the crowded spaces and found a cool refuge in the room right in front of the entrance. I likely scared off some SC Newbies as they hit the top stairs and the first thing they saw was an elderly straight woman; not exactly the poster child for a Gay Mixer!
Anyway, I had lovely chats with Martin Methot and his husband, Robert Ryan, and then in walked David Sabella, who has been in the States for the last four months. And, I keep running into pianist Michael Ferreri and Pedro from the Gay+ Community Center! When I took my leave a bit past 7 pm, already 200 guys had visited! A good thing all the tables and chairs had been removed!
I wandered down Basilio Badillo to Nacho Daddy for Open Mic. Canadian comedienne Diana Frances was filling in for Gouda Gabor. Diana kicked off the night with a song she wrote for us all to sing along to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas, but the line, (what) ”my true love gave to me” was replaced by ”Vallarta.” The words with hilarious graphics were projected on the big screen. We were laughing so hard we could barely sing! Lines like, ”eleven twinks a’twinkling” ”seven ships a’sinking” (pics of the Marigalante going down – that kicked up protests throughout the room!), and, with a photo of Gouda, the first gift of ”a drag queen in a palm tree!”
Bing Young masterfully kept up on the piano, and I had harmonies in my ear sung by Mister Lady Zen, who sat with me between their songs on the stage. Sarah Joy, Miana Melendez, and Steven Retchless all spoke about their impending shows. I will see and hear AlZENira when they sing with Enrique at Coco Cabaret on Thursday, and then in their solo show again at Coco this Friday at 5 pm.
Scrabble today at Qulture and later at The Palm at 5 pm, Sinatra and Buble, aka Nacho Granados and Armando Chakam, with a band, will croon us into bliss; I do adore these two outstanding performers, From Here.
Thursday
Another classy and sassy Chris Lopez production – That’s Life – has the Palm Cabaret close to sold out, mid-week at 5 pm. Last night, backed by Musical Director Alexis Macias on piano, his son on standup bass, and Diana Luna on saxophone that added a bit of smokin’ sexiness, Armando Chakam and Nacho Granados presented Sinatra and Buble.
There is only one more presentation of this show at 5 pm on Christmas Eve, when a couple of seasonal tunes will be added to the playlist of these two crooning, powerhouse legends.
Nacho and Armando were both gorgeous in tuxedos and took turns singing solos, and closed the show with a duet. Lots of chair dances and people happily singing along to tunes their parents adored.
What I love about the Palm is the cabaret intention; the performers invite the audience to be onstage, and the audience, in turn, welcomes the performers to sit alongside. The intimacy when the lights are up a little, eyes can connect across the short space, and everyone in the room becomes included in the performance.
Both Armando and Nacho perform in various venues around town, and so many of their friends attend their shows, no matter where they are, to show their support and love. These two versatile singers are happy to croon or break out into serious rock and roll; to their endless credit, they embrace whatever genre they’re in wholeheartedly and with such style. Bravos, gentlemen. And thanks to Chris Lopez for yet another blockbuster!
After the show, Sandra Bradley and I walked down the Malecon and watched the city workers finally decorating for Christmas. The tree is huge and beautiful! Santa was in residence, and we would have stopped and placed our orders for next week, but we were on a mission.
Fernando Tomasini, Chef and founder of the restaurant-bar Puro Peru, was laid to rest yesterday. Sandra and I joined the new owners and old friends of Fernando’s, David Brandell and Charles (Charlie) Vandeputte. We had a tour of Fernando’s house, which became the restaurant Puro Peru about six years ago, just up from the Malecon on Aldama and Guadalupe Sanchez. A few colorful stories unfolded over some delish vegetarian spring rolls, as the history of a deep and warm friendship was told by David and Charlie, who are now the proprietors of Puro Peru. Their story about Puro Peru and its acquisition, and their long friendship with the founder and owner, Fernando Tomasini, almost mirrors my relationship with Allyna Vineberg, the owner and founder of the PV Mirror.
David and Charlie are respectfully carrying on the traditions and flavors originally prepared by Fernando for Puro Peru, while learning the various ins and outs of running the restaurant and the attendant idiosyncrasies. They have an excellent new chef, Jesus Cabo, who worked closely with Fernando, and the balance of the staff remains in place. The welcoming energy that prevails is Puro Fernando and Friends, From Here.
Friday
Enrique de Allende has a pile of talented friends! Pass it on! Happy Birthday, Enrique; your party at Coco Cabaret sure made a lot of people happy. I don’t think there was an empty chair in the house at 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon.
Gouda Gabor hosted the festivities, and Derek Carkner provided gorgeous accompaniment on piano for all but one or two numbers.
The show kicked off with the reunion of Al (Mimi) Ramirez and just-back-in-town Fernando Gonzalez, who has been living in Canada, and their fiery flamenco guitars. Enrique joined in eventually. All I can say about that is: Gipsy Kings, who? Wowza!
Enrique sang with his comadre, longtime friend and collaborator in so many birthday parties and concerts over the years, Kim Kuzma, who looked absolutely stunning onstage; she is the godmother to Enrique’s son.
Mister Lady Zen, who also lives in San Miguel de Allende, had fun onstage with Enrique. (Zen’s show ”The Intimate” is tonight at Coco Cabaret at 5 pm.) Luis Villanueva and Kevin Anthony each shared a song with the birthday boy, as did Roy Cruz and Diego Guerrero.
It was a lovely afternoon and early evening filled with love and good intentions.
”She, He, Him” debuts this Saturday (tomorrow!) at Nacho Daddy at 7:30. She is Amy Armstrong; He is the wildly and creatively funny Sargento Dan; and, Him is award-winning pianist from New York City, Mark Hartman. I have a feeling this show is one you could go to every week and be thoroughly entertained, even if the playlist stays the same. Three very different senses of humor and all very funny in their own way, but to have all three of them onstage at the same time? It’ll be a miracle if any songs get sung at all.
Winter starts this Sunday afternoon at 3:03 in Vallarta, with the celebration of the season lasting until March 20. Are you doing anything special to welcome Winter?
Christmas fun continues on Monday, again with Gouda Gabor and guests at Nacho Daddy, and I wish I could get back to The Palm on Christmas Eve for the Sinatra and Buble concert, as Nacho Granados and Armando Chakam will be adding a few seasonal tunes to their repertoire. I have Scrabble and Colina Spay and Neuter Clinic Bingo eating up that Wednesday until 6 pm.
I have only eight more posts in the Vallarta Mirror before the end of the year and two more Rearview Mirrors before both wrap on the 31st of December. You will still be able to continue to read ‘From Here’ at VallartaCalendar.com, Around Town, if I have a show to review or something else to say; I have not worked out all the logistics yet, which makes it fun again, and that’s the whole point, right?
Take care of our tourists who are returning to Vallarta in droves. If you see them at a corner, a little bewildered by why the street numbers don’t necessarily go in order or even retain their names, give them a hand and welcome them to Mexico, From Here.
